Resource efficiency
The UK's missing climate policy
Despite current and planned policy the UK is on course to miss its future climate change targets. But, the government has so far ignored the huge potential of resource efficiency to cut carbon.
Our report
Less in, more out shows that improving resource efficiency in five key sectors - construction, vehicles, food and drink, electronics and appliances, and clothing and textiles - could cut domestic carbon emissions by nearly 200 MtCO2e by 2032, equivalent to more than half of the UK’s annual CO
2 emissions.
Press release May 14 2018
: 'More efficient resource use would put UK on track to meet legally binding emissions limits'
#ResourceEfficiency
Time's running out
Greener UK warns the government to act now to ensure a green Brexit
With a year to go until Brexit, Greener UK has
urged the government to fulfil its “green Brexit” promises by bringing forward ambitious new legislation.
Read about the Withdrawal Bill
amendments Greener UK has proposed to ensure environmental protections are maintained.
Green Alliance is a member of
Greener UK, a coalition of 13 major environmental organisations, united in the belief that leaving the EU is a pivotal moment to restore and enhance the UK's environment.
See:
'Government ‘running out of time’ to deliver green Brexit, warns environmental coalition',
The Independent
Setting the standard
Shifting to sustainable food production in the UK
Brexit has opened up a far reaching debate about what agricultural subsidies are for. Farmland makes up 70 per cent of the UK’s land area and its primary purpose is food production. An agricultural support scheme that does not include more sustainable food production as a source of public benefits will not lead to the environmental improvements we need.
This policy insight recommends that the new agricultural support scheme gives preference to sustainable food production, requires good environmental reporting, invests in farm-based innovation and safeguards standards in trade deals.
Read the report:
Setting the standard: Shifting to sustainable food production in the UK
Press release: 23 March 2018
How the UK can lead the electric vehicle revolution
...by bringing forward the petrol and diesel vehicle ban to 2030
Britain is falling behind in the global shift to electric vehicles. If the government wants to, as it says, “cement the UK’s position as a world leader in the low emission and electric vehicle industry”, now is the time to shift gear.
We recommend that the ban on petrol and diesel vehicles is brought forward ten years, from 2040 to 2030. Accelerating EV uptake would also help reduce the UK's carbon policy gap, help to tackle air pollution and reduce the costs of EVs sooner, making them more accessible for everyone.
Read the report:
How the UK can lead the electric vehicle revolution
Press release: 19 March 2018
Britain's trading future
A post-Brexit export strategy led by clean growth
The UK is in the process of developing an independent trade strategy, as part of the Brexit process, and its industrial strategy is focused on maximising the opportunity of clean growth. Recent ONS statistics also revealed that UK low carbon industries are the fastest growing sector in the economy.
This policy insight sets out what a trade strategy, designed to benefit UK businesses in a decarbonising world, would look like. It recommends that the UK should seek regulatory alignment with the EU on low carbon goods and services to enable the sector to continue to thrive.
Read the report:
Britain's trading future: a post-Brexit export strategy led by clean growth
Press release: 21 February 2018
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